1931, U.S.A.
Largest private yacht with luxurious fit-out. Served on diplomatic events for the U.S.A., then integrated the U.S. navy before returning as a private yacht and finally as a cruising sail ship.
Built in Kiel (Germany) for American millionaires Marjorie & Edward F. Hutton, she was launched in 1931 under the ...
1931, U.S.A.
Largest private yacht with luxurious fit-out. Served on diplomatic events for the U.S.A., then integrated the U.S. navy before returning as a private yacht and finally as a cruising sail ship.
Built in Kiel (Germany) for American millionaires Marjorie & Edward F. Hutton, she was launched in 1931 under the name of Hussar II. With her 109-meter length, over 54-meter mast, her 30 sails of three thousand meter square, she was undoubtedly the largest private yacht.
She was one of rare sail boats to justify her five stars rating. For a cost of USD 900,000 (currently equivalent to thirty million dollars) only the best would do: rare wood sculptures, stucco ceilings, gold plated taps, marble (Carrare) bathrooms, Murano chandeliers, Venitian mirrors, and French antiques.
When in 1935 Hutton’s ex-wife Marjorie married the US ambassador to the Soviet Union Joseph Davies she brought with her Hussar II who was then renamed Sea Cloud. The ship was then used to entertain many high profile people such as princes from Hawaii and the Southern Seas, Norwegian king Haakon, Swedish king Gustav, Belgium queen Elisabeth and the Duchess and Duke of Windsor and as a diplomatic residence in Leningrad where communist guests were astounded by the magnificence of the receptions and where soviet VIPs could observe first hand western decadence.
The Sea Cloud then underwent several transformations as she served as a weather ship for the U.S. coast guards, then was part of the U.S. navy during World War II (she was the first racially integrated warship in the U.S. armed forces).
She was then sold several times into private ownership (one of them being the ruler of the Dominican Republic). Her final transformation came about in 1979 when she became part of a fleet of sail cruise ships. Her assets were retained during restoration and nowadays sixty four passengers have the privilege of cruising on board of such a luxurious yacht.
